Spring dog assembly and the like



Feb. 6, 1945. c. BADGLEY SPRING DOG ASSEMBLY AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 23. 1941 4 5 u m a H .1 o

c W 6 m 1 Patented 1 05.6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE seams DOG ASSEMBLY AND THE LIKE Laurie Clarke Badgley, Springfield, Ill.

Application August 23, 1941, Serial No. soaoss 7 Claims.

In wells such as those using a single pipe jet pump arrangement, a spring do assembly is provided to actuate a sealing member generally known as a packer, sealing the well casing with the jet pump assembly by expanding the packer. It also assists in aligning the jet and pipe assembly in the well casing. The spring dog threads onto the jet assembly in normal operation, so that the pipe below the jet assembly normally passes through the spring dog, but the spring dog may be moved longitudinally up or down on the pipe. within limits necessary to operate the packer by twisting the pipe. This invention has to do with such an arrangement wherein an improved spring dog assembly is provided.

For more detail on the complete jet pump assembly, reference is made to my pending application, Serial #354,520, filed August 28, 1940.

In such an installation as above mentioned, it is customary to place a pipe, on which has been locked a jet assembly, in the well casing. The jet assembly will usually carry the packer near the bottom thereof, and be provided with a shoulder against which the packer seats. Forcing the packer longitudinally of the well casing against this shoulder results in it expanding outwardly and contacting the well casing and thus sealing the space between the well casing and the jet assembly. The main object of this invention is to provide an improved device for forcing the packer into sealing position after the construction has been lowered into a well casing, and for releasing the packer when it is desired to remove the assembly from the well casing.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device which slips into position in the well without difliculty, but which grips with greater than average force in restrainin against rotation of the spring dog assembly.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a longitudinal spring arrangement with spring members, supplying a tension when installed, and having separate plates loosely attached to the spring members for gripping the inner surface of the well casing or pipe against rotation of the spring dog assembly.

It is a further object to provide a spring dog assembly having separate contact plates which are inserted through slots in the springs to grip the inner wall surface. In this connection, it is an object to provide plates which are held in the slots with a single point of bearing surface such as a pin, which provides for freedom of movement of the bearing surface on each spring to allow each contact plate to pass obstructions and rough surfaces on the well casing, when being inserted into the well, but which contact platesexert resistance to rotation of the spring dog assembly.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved arrangement which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which may be made with the ordinary materials readily avail-- able on the market today.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the nove1 construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of a well casing with a part of a jet pump assembly in place therein; and

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a spring dog assembly fOlIl'lil'lg the subject matter of this invention.

Referring more in detai1 to the construction shown in the figures, I have illustrated the device as being applied particularly to a jet Dump installation. It is understood, however, that there are other installations where such an arrangement would be entirely feasible, and the present disclosure is illustrative only and not exhaustive as to the uses to which the invention may be put.

I have provided the casing or the like l0, which is an ordinary well casing as shown. In this casing is shown as inserted, a jet pump assembly, only a fragment of the assembly being disclosed. This consists of the Venturi pipe I I, the jet l2, an inlet manifold l3, and a packer l4. Attached to the inlet manifold l3, preferably by threading is the spring dog assembly l5 which constitutes the subject matter of this application. In the bottora; portion of the inlet manifold I3 is attached the pipe l6, which preferably leads to the foot valve l1.

Referring particularly to Figure 2, the spring dog assembly has the upper annular ring l8 provided with the internal, or female, threads adapted to be threaded onto the external, or male, threads of the inlet manifold l3. The packer H normally is located against a shoulder portion of the inlet manifold, and the upper annular ring I8 is pressed against said packer when the assembly, including the inlet manifold, is threaded downwardly onthe spring dog assembly which remains relatively stationary. The packer thus may be expanded outwardly by rotating the pipes tension pressure from will be "ridden over will form a holding and inlet manifold II to fold downwardly into the annular thread the inlet maniring l8,' the latter being thus forced against the packer and For this purpose, the longitudinal spring I9 may be countersunk if desired although it i not 1 essential.

The principal feature of my present invention comprises the provision of the contact plates 22 mounted on the longitudinal spring members it.

These contact plates are preferably inserted in slots 23, so that they present outer or what may be termed knife-edged portion 26, substantially radially outwardly. These contact plates 22 are held against outward movement radially by their base portion 25, which is larger than the slots 23. The portion designated as knife-edged portion 24 passes through the slots 23 and the pins 26 are inserted. These pins prevent the return of the 5 knife-edged portions 24 through the slots 23 and form a bearing surface on the spring 49. When the spring dog assembly is forced into a well casing, the outer edge portions of these contact plates slide along the well casing under radially outward the springs i9. Rough edges such as are caused by Joinder of the pipes and the spring dog assembly will slide easily in place. The edges of the knifeedged portion, however, will resist rotation of the spring dog assembly within the well casing and means which effectively permits tightening the upper annular ring on the inlet manifold l3 and against the packer i4-- thus expanding the packer to fill the well casing.

Reversing the rotation of the pipe will move the spring dog from the packer, and loosen the packer, so the assembly may be drawn from the well casing.

1 The form of the invention herein shown and deicribed presents a preferred embodiment thereof, and delineates its adaption to practical use, but it is to be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered from the illustrative standpoint and not as imposing restriction or limitation on the invention.

While I have herein shown and described certain features of my invention, still I do not wish to limit myself thereto, except as I may do so in the claims.

I claim:

1. A spring dog assembly comprising an upper annular ring and a lower annular ring, spring means joining said annular rings, contact plates and means forattaching said plates attached to said spring means, said contact plate attaching means retaining said contact plates against substantial lateral movement with respect to the longitudinal spring means while permitting longitudinal movement about an axis with respect to portions of the longitudinal spring means.

2. As an article of manufacture, a spring dog assembly comprising an upper annular ring and a lower annular ring, longitudinal spring means between said annular rings, contact plate means carried by said longitudinal sprin means, said contact plate means presenting a knife-edged ing through said knife-edged portion and retaining, in cooperation with the base, said contact plates in position in the longitudinal spring means.

4. A spring dog assembly comprising an upper annular ring and a lower annular ring. spring means between said annular rings, contact plate means carried'by said spring means, said contact plate means being movable within limits on such spring means.

5. As an article of manufacture a spring dog assembly comprising an upper annular ring and a lower annular ring, longitudinal spring means between said annular rings, contact plate means longitudinal spring means, and having a bearing surface on said spring means, said contact plate means presenting a knifeedged portion radially outward from said spring dog assembly, the arrangement being such that said knife-edged portion is movable within limits about the bearing surface 6. In combination with into a well casing and havingla seal of compressive type for acting between the well pipe and the casing, a spring dog assembly comprising longitudinal spring members for gripping a well casing or the like, means comprising contact plates lying in a radial and longitudinal plane secured to the spring members and urged radially outward thereby, such spring dog assembly substantially resisting rotative movement when in engagement with a well casing, the spring dog assembly being carri d by the well pipe and exerting pressure on he above mentioned sealing means upon rotation of the well pipe in one direction, and relieving said ment with a surrounding well casing and released from said sealing engagement, as the case may be.

7. In a spring dog assembly for engaging the internal casing surface of a well or the like, a plurality of leaf springs adapted to extend longitudinally of the well,

LAURIE CLARKE BADGIEY.

on such spring means, a well pipe extending 

